February US Commercial Printing Shipments Disappoint, but January Shipments Revised Higher

The US Department of Commerce reported that shipments of commercial printers for February 2013 were $5.994 billion, down -$169 million compared to 2012. This was the first time that shipments were below $6 billion since January 1992. On an inflation-adjusted basis, those 1992 shipments would be $9.9 billion today.
January 2013 shipments, however, were revised up by +$121 million, and were +$269 million compared to January 2012.
For the first two months of the year, shipments are up $100 million, or +0.8%. On an inflation-adjusted basis, however, shipments are down -$119 million, or -0.9%. (click chart to enlarge)